Caretakers get tips on caring for seized children

From Amarillo to Houston, children from the polygamist ranch in west Texas are settling into new surroundings, and caretakers are getting cultural pointers on how to deal with them -- such as no television, no movies, no radio and nothing red.

"The color 'RED' is not acceptable for clothing," said a memo that the Texas Department of Child Protective Services sent to caretakers for the 462 children seized this month from the Yearning for Zion ranch after a tip about possible abuse.

Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe red is reserved for Jesus Christ, according to officials in Utah.

Another memo from state officials to caretakers describes the children's dietary and clothing needs.

"Help them with self-esteem, guilty feelings, shame, confusion about mainstream culture, and learning basic decision making skills," said another memo to caretakers.

A judge awarded custody of the children to the state after child-welfare officials argued they could be in danger in Eldorado, where officials say young girls were forced to marry much older men and bear their children.